My Genealogy Hound

ADAM STEPHEN, Georgetown, one of the most prominent grocers of the village, was born in the kingdom of Bavaria June 12, 1829. His father died when our subject was quite young. His mother was Mary (Baker) Stephen. She was the mother of two children — our subject, and a sister, Sarah (now the wife of Jacob Kancher, of Cleveland, Ohio). Mr. Stephen accompanied his mother and sister to America in 1830. The three located on a farm in Franklin Township, near Arnheim, this county, where Mrs. Stephen died in 1850. Mr. Stephen was reared on a farm, and when fifteen years of age went to Dover, Ky., where he remained some time. In 1847, he worked on a farm in Mason County, Ky., for $6 per month, and soon after volunteered to go to the Mexican war, but the company was full and his services were not needed. In 1849, he removed to Georgetown, where he resided till 1853. He had learned the cooper’s trade, and in the latter year went to Quincy, Ill., where he worked at his trade six months. He then went to Aurora and Peoria, in the same State, and thence to Georgetown, where he has since resided. He worked at his trade for eighteen years altogether, and then engaged in the saloon and boarding house business, which he followed for five years. In 1872, he engaged in the grocery business, and has succeeded in building up a large and profitable trade. Mr. Stephen owns a very nice two-story brick residence on North Main street, the “old George Shields farm,” of 187 acres; the “old Thomas L. Hamer and Devore property,” the “old Hamer homestead” of eight acres, and many village lots. Mr. Stephen has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1856, and is a charter member of Confidence Lodge, No. 307, I. O. O. F., of Georgetown. Mr. Stephen was united in marriage, in 1854, to Elizabeth Reohm, a native of Wurtemberg. She died in 1863. Mr. Stephen was again married, in 1865, to Sarah Clump, a native of Wurtemberg also. Seven children have been given them, six living — Frank, Elizabeth, Albert G., King William, Charlie and Hattie. Mr. Stephen and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. S. is also connected with the K. of P. Lodge.